WALSENBURG, Colo. (KUSA) - The "Dougherty Gang" as they came to be known were sentenced Monday for their involvement in a cross-country crime spree where they shot at police officers, lead authorities on a high-speed chase and allegedly robbed a bank in Georgia.

The Dougherty Gang, including Ryan and Lee Grace Dougherty, were on the run from Zephyrhills, Florida and ended up in Colorado in August 2011.

The gang dubbed "Bonnie, Clyde & Clyde," are also accused of robbing a bank in Georgia and firing at police in a couple of states, including Colorado as they tried to run from troopers along Interstate 25 near Walsenburg.

The Dougherty Gang pleaded guilty to various charges against them and are being sentenced at the Huerfano County Courthouse Monday morning. Dylan was being sentenced first. He was sentenced to 32 years.

Dylan Dougherty's sentencing

"I never tried to hurt anybody," said a teary-eyed Dylan Dougherty - one of the three siblings being sentenced to 32 years on Monday in the Huerfano County jail.

"Contrary to people's belief, I never tried to hurt anyone. It's true, I had desperation. I'm sorry for the choices I've made," Dougherty said to the judge, while trying to maintain composure, as he cried and wiped tears from his face.

He was dressed in a yellow jump suit, his hair pulled back in a pony tail.

"I wish I had done things differently," Dougherty said, "Not sure what I would've done differently. Actions I did take were not my character."

The prosecution described the three-state crime spree in detail. Assistant District Attorney Clay McKisson told the court Dylan Dougherty was the "trigger man." He fired, "not once or twice, but 11 times that we know of at the troopers chasing him, without regard for the lives of the officers."

"What we see is sustained effort on behalf of [Dylan Dougherty] to escape capture by whatever means necessary. Whatever the cost of human life might be," McKisson told the court.

A metal shank was also found in Dougherty's cell.

His attorney told the court he grew up a middle child of five. He was close to his two siblings.

"Hard worker and extremely loyal," his defense attorney called him.

His defense attorney Cobea Becker told the court Dylan wanted to help his brother Ryan, which is how the entire incident began. Ryan was on probation in Florida.

"Nothing occurred here in Colorado was done with any rational thought at all," Becker told the court. "He didn't consider the consequences of his actions. Mr. Dougherty never meant to hurt anyone."

Becker added Dylan was shooting warning shots, in an attempt to get away and intentionally not hitting any one of the officers.

"His behavior shows desperation to help his brother," Becker said.

"We can't blames this on drugs, we can't blame this on alcohol, we did this stone-cold sober. When I say we - I mean you and your siblings," said Judge Claude Appel while talking about Dylan's possible sentence. "What you said took a lot of courage, but what you did on the highway took a lot of cowardice."

As the judge described the gang's actions and possible consequences as they opened fire at the troopers chasing them, Dougherty shook his head.

"You were bound and determined to go out in the blaze of glory," Judge Appel said. "You certainly didn't surrender. You could've said this is crazy, let's stop. You could've stopped this any time."

An almost cheerful and smiling Lee Grace Dougherty appeared in the Huerfano County Courthouse for her sentencing Monday morning. She was sentenced to 24 years.

Dougherty, with a new bob-like haircut, in the yellow jumpsuit looked around the courtroom, waved and smiled at people she knew in the courtroom.

Lee Grace is the older sister of Dylan and Ryan Dougherty.

"I would like to again take this opportunity to apologize for my actions," said Lee Grace Dougherty when she addressed the court - crying. "My motivation behind my decision was to protect my younger brother. He's not only my brother, but my best friend.

"I didn't set out to harm anyone. My only thought was to get my brother to another country and help him start another life."

Daugherty pleaded guilty to one count of attempted first-degree assault and two counts of felony menacing, all of which are felonies.

Barbara Bell, the mother of the Dougherty Gang, wrote a letter to the court, parts of it were quoted during the hearing for Dylan and Lee Grace.

Bell wrote in part, "Let's talk about consequences, surely three people can come up with a plan better than a stupid crime spree," district attorney Ruybalid read to the judge.
Ruybalid said."She's lucky to be alive today - given their behavior."

Lee Grace's attorney Pat McCarville asked the court to impose a minimum sentence of nine years.

"This criminal episode is really forged by sibling bond," McCarville said. "I've been told stories of childhood abuse. She would run outside and say, 'Come on,' and lead her siblings away from harm."

She's the oldest of the siblings.

"It was a foolish attempt to help her brothers," McCarville said.

McCarville said she'll face authorities in Florida and Georgia for those actions.

"It defies common sense," said Judge Claude Appel, "You're on probation in Florida, your brother is on probation."

As an older sibling, Judge Appel said Lee Grace should've known better.

"'This is nuts, we should just surrender, this is crazy, you're gonna get us all killed,'" Judge Appel told Lee Grace.

"This is a bad situation that just go worse," Lee Grace wrote in her pre-sentence report, as Judge Appel read.

The plan was, as the judge read, for the trio to work and live in Belize indefinitely.

Ryan Dougherty's sentencing

"I'm generally remorseful. I'm sorry for my brother [who] will be 60 when he gets out," Ryan Dougherty said. "I'm sorry for my wife and son. There is much more I wish I could say as of now I have pending cases in other places."

"'All he did is drive the car,' is not an excuse," said Huerfano County District Attorney Frank Ruybalid of the third defendant being sentenced in the Dougherty Gang case.

Ryan Dougherty was the last one to be sentenced for his role in the armed heist that started in Florida, went through Georgia and ended in Walsenburg. His older sister and brother are also facing charges in Florida for shooting at a police officer there while trying to get away and in Georgia, where they robbed a bank.

"Ryan Dougherty is somebody who should've known better," Ruybalid said.

Dougherty's attorney Michael Emmons said he didn't want to minimize Ryan's involvement in the case. The attorney did explain to the court what happened to Ryan in Florida that led to the crime spree. The attorney told the court Dougherty was placed on probation for inappropriate texting.

The lawyers said Dougherty was not informed of the conditions of the probation prior to taking the plea and going on probation.

Emmons told Judge Claude Appel that Dougherty was not aware he would not be able to have contact with his new son. He had to get a new driver's license within 48 hours to be marked with a sex-offender label. He had to wear an ankle monitor and attend classes.

Emmons said Ryan had no way of to get a new license, he didn't have a birth certificate or a current address, he couldn't afford to pay for the monitor or attend the necessary classes.

So within a day or so of being placed of probation, Ryan was going to violate it, the attorney told the court, and be on his way to prison for 12 years.

"I think you recognize now you're not a hero. You're not Robin Hood. This is three young people who decided to do a really stupid thing. This whole thing started because of you. I do understand you were convicted of sexting with a young minor," Judge Appel said.

Judge Appel said Dougherty's probation didn't last a day. Judge Appel talked about the number of guns and ammunition in the car when the threesome was arrested.The judge recounted 10 loaded guns in the car and in the trunk. [Nearly 2,000] rounds of ammunition were found in the trunk.

"There is nothing about disappearing in any of your behavior since you left Florida," the judge said.

"You did the very things to cause law enforcement to apprehend you. None of it makes any rational sense," Judge Appel told the defendant.

"You had a really rough upbringing," the judge said. "There is no question in my mind you were abused. I know that has always been a factor that create later propensity to crime. When somebody is on the receiving end of your behavior, they may not be interested in those explanations."

Judge Appel called Ryan "the classic getaway driver."

"Just as I told your brother and sister, you're not getting sentenced because you're a horrible person," the judge said. "You enabled all of this to happened, it's because of you it happened."

"Even though it's a long time, I hope you can make the best of it," the judge said.

And with that, Dougherty was sentenced to 18 years. He had faced up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to t five counts of menacing.

All three siblings are now expected to be transferred from state to federal custody within days, if not hours.

The U.S. Marshals Service will transport them to Albany, Ga., for a court hearing on May 15.